Preparations
4 days and counting until my departure!!
And I still have so much to do!! I've been oscillating back and forth between feeling really good about going to Thailand, and then also feeling really scared! I have done a lot of traveling, but it has always been with a group or organization, or I've been staying with a host faimly, so I've been pretty much taken care of. Even with that help, it can still be scary!!
Anyway, something just clicked recently and my fear has almost compltely subsided, and I am feeling really excited!!
At Esalen and at my meditation retreat, I had two seperate encounters with black snakes! At Esalen, I was hiking alone, and I seriously came about 2 inches from stepping on a snake, and then at my meditation retreat, I was walking and there was this balack garden snake just chillin next to the path. (Snakes signify facing ones fears, and transformation).
A couple nights ago, I also had this dream about snakes. I was at a house that I lived in in Isla Vista (this was a super hard period in my life) and there was this red van from my childhood that I was in and afraid to get out of because there were 4 or 5 snakes around the van. I was shaking and trembling, and no one seemed to understand my fear in the dream, but then my dad came and was being so kind, and he got in the car and drove me right up to my doorstep. He kinda helped me through my fear in the dream, so its nice to think that he's with me on my travels on some level.
And then a couple of nights later, I had this awesome dream where I was staying at my mom's house (where I am right now) and I woke up and opened the blinds and there was this crystal blue water right below the window, and then as far as I could see, just like the pictures i've seen of Thailand. I felt so peaceful in the dream, and then freaked out about the desert not being there, but i felt really peaceful when I woke up too. I really feel like I am meant to go to Thailand for some reason or another, short or long term.
I just made my reservation for my four day stay in Bangkok, and also booked transportation from Bangkok to Chiang Mai where I will be living. I was a little intimidated to do this, but it was so easy!! Some family friends who've been there recommended this fairly nice hotel to stay at when I first arrive ($45 a night), and I reluctantly agreed, but they were sold out anyway, so I guess that my intuition was right anyway!
Michael, my friend Ben's brother e-mailed me and told me stay at this guest house called the Shanti Inn in the backpacker's/touristy district, but it is off the beaten path just a little bit, so I'll be able to sleep at night! I looked on-line, and it appears to be right up my alley, so I'll be staying there nights 2,3, and 4, and the first night I'll be staying at another guest house close by (The Shanti Inn was sold out for my first night). It's amazing how much you can really budget travel there. I'll be paying about $6-7 dollars a night for a private room with hot water and air conditioning, but if you really want to rough it, you can stay at places for less than $2 a night!
And I still have so much to do!! I've been oscillating back and forth between feeling really good about going to Thailand, and then also feeling really scared! I have done a lot of traveling, but it has always been with a group or organization, or I've been staying with a host faimly, so I've been pretty much taken care of. Even with that help, it can still be scary!!
Anyway, something just clicked recently and my fear has almost compltely subsided, and I am feeling really excited!!
At Esalen and at my meditation retreat, I had two seperate encounters with black snakes! At Esalen, I was hiking alone, and I seriously came about 2 inches from stepping on a snake, and then at my meditation retreat, I was walking and there was this balack garden snake just chillin next to the path. (Snakes signify facing ones fears, and transformation).
A couple nights ago, I also had this dream about snakes. I was at a house that I lived in in Isla Vista (this was a super hard period in my life) and there was this red van from my childhood that I was in and afraid to get out of because there were 4 or 5 snakes around the van. I was shaking and trembling, and no one seemed to understand my fear in the dream, but then my dad came and was being so kind, and he got in the car and drove me right up to my doorstep. He kinda helped me through my fear in the dream, so its nice to think that he's with me on my travels on some level.
And then a couple of nights later, I had this awesome dream where I was staying at my mom's house (where I am right now) and I woke up and opened the blinds and there was this crystal blue water right below the window, and then as far as I could see, just like the pictures i've seen of Thailand. I felt so peaceful in the dream, and then freaked out about the desert not being there, but i felt really peaceful when I woke up too. I really feel like I am meant to go to Thailand for some reason or another, short or long term.
I just made my reservation for my four day stay in Bangkok, and also booked transportation from Bangkok to Chiang Mai where I will be living. I was a little intimidated to do this, but it was so easy!! Some family friends who've been there recommended this fairly nice hotel to stay at when I first arrive ($45 a night), and I reluctantly agreed, but they were sold out anyway, so I guess that my intuition was right anyway!
Michael, my friend Ben's brother e-mailed me and told me stay at this guest house called the Shanti Inn in the backpacker's/touristy district, but it is off the beaten path just a little bit, so I'll be able to sleep at night! I looked on-line, and it appears to be right up my alley, so I'll be staying there nights 2,3, and 4, and the first night I'll be staying at another guest house close by (The Shanti Inn was sold out for my first night). It's amazing how much you can really budget travel there. I'll be paying about $6-7 dollars a night for a private room with hot water and air conditioning, but if you really want to rough it, you can stay at places for less than $2 a night!
posted by meagan at 12:03 AM
5 Comments:
Hey guys, I just changed the settings, so anyone can leave a comment, just click on the comment icon. Do not click on the envelope icon! MEagan
Meggie---
You are on your next adventure and new life path! How exciting for you... I feel rather estranged from where you are right now... it's been SOOOO long since we have talked. But I'm super happy to see that your wishes are coming true and what you had dreamed are becoming realities. I miss you, my little astrology friend. But I too, will begin my new adventure in January. I'm moving to Pittsburgh early to get myself settled before grad school. Work and romance is stagnant- so I might as well shake it up. Love you mucho and please take care!
Katie
Sawadees Krab!
I can't remember if I gave the following to you previously: At www.thai-language.com you will find an incredible resource for language, culture, history, maps, etc. Anyone following your BLOG ought to check out this website. It is also a place to make contacts while "in country". It even has a running clock display that shows the local time.
Enjoy your flight (24-hrs, pillow to pillow). Oh joy. By the time that you get off of the airplane, you will be two calendar days from the day you left home.
S. Kreck
Meags: 'Got your arrival e-mail. Say hi to my friends there. Also, got your phone number.
011 International Access
66 Thailand country code
09 Region code
XXX-XXXX Local phone number
When calling from outside Thailand, drop the zero preceding the Region Code (in other words, just dial "9")
When calling Thai to Thai, use the leading zero.
The CALLER is the only one charged for the call, so I can call and talk without it going against your minutes. I got a great deal on phone rates from www.tollthai.com/usa.
You left just in time: The weather turned cold and we got a dusting of snow up high. I'm sure that's not a problem in Bangkok.
Steve
Proud of ya, lady.
I assume that the hotel that you're staying at is in the Khao San Road district? Fun area. It sounds like you're crash course in Asia is going very well. If you get a chance, spend some time on a boat up a khlong (canal). You can take a long-tail boat to the Royal Barges National Museum, which I found to be amazing. It gives a sense of the power that the former kings had, and the love that the people have for the current king. The Snake Farm is also accessible via khlong. It's not a lot different from some of the small private zoos in Florida, but is still fairly interesting and supports research. I never made it to the Floating Market, but it's a good excuse to get on the water.
If you feel the need for extremely loud "Techno" music in a megaclub, check out the "RCA". There are several other good clubs in the same block. There's a cover charge, but it rocks. Best to go with a group.
Steve
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